Venezuela earthquakes leave 680,000 children in need of assistance: UNICEF
Damage to hospitals, schools, and water systems is exacerbating the situation for affected families, many of whom remain displaced.The two earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, left at least 1,430 people dead and 3,238 injured, according to the latest official count. More than 3,100 families have been affected, while authorities continue to assess the damage and aftershocks maintain uncertainty in the affected areas.The search continuesOn Saturday, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla, carried out his first mission to La Guaira, the most state most affected by the earthquake, accompanied by several UN agencies. The visit included a tour of some of the hardest-hit areas and the coordination centre for search and rescue teams.Together with the authorities, the mission also made progress in identifying locations to install services for families who lost their homes or cannot return to them.Mr. Rampolla highlighted that, alongside the destruction and the anguish of the families, he found that neighbours, volunteers and rescue teams from around the globe had mobilised in support of the victims.“At a time when we’re always focused on the bad things happening in the world, here’s a gesture of solidarity from around the globe to support Venezuelans,” he said. “The first priority is to get the people still alive out of the rubble, and that’s why supporting and coordinating the teams arriving from all over the world is so important. At the same time, we have to support the survivors.”
